What does the Bible say about being ready for the Lord's return?

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus shares the parable of the ten virgins, highlighting the importance of being ready for His return. Five virgins are wise because they bring oil for their lamps, symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit and the genuine faith required to meet the Bridegroom, while the five foolish virgins are unprepared. This parable serves as both a comfort and a warning, urging believers to be vigilant and spiritually awake, knowing that 'we do not know the day or the hour' (Matthew 25:13). It emphasizes that genuine faith is necessary and cannot be borrowed from others, as the foolish virgins attempt to do by asking the wise for oil.